Umbrellas



March 11, 1969 p. KRAFT 3,431,925

UMBRELLAS Filed Aug. 5, 1966 Sheet Z of 3 INVENTORS PAUL KRAFT March 11, 1969 P. KRAFT 3,431,925

UMBRELLAS Filed Aug. 1966 Sheet 2 of s PAUL KRAFT, INVENTOR BY v ATTORNE;

March 11,1969 'P. KRAFT 3,431,925

UMBRELLAS Sheet 3 of C 26 8 a 24 i z 26 t x L.

PAUL KRA FT, IN VENTOP stag/ ATTORNEY.

United States Patent C) 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Flat umbrellas are those that collapse into a shape resembling a necktie box. In such umbrellas, the cover spreading ribs are attached in a line along the top of the umbrella at progressively increasing distances from the central umbrella shaft. In the collapsed state of the umbrella, the cover ribs and their auxiliary linkages lie parallel to the umbrella shaft and spaced at the progressively increasing distances therefrom. When the umbrella is opened, the cover ribs must skew into various quasiradiating positions to spread the cover. This movement of the cover ribs is promoted in the present invention by connecting the ribs with loose pin and hole fits and by providing vacant space laterally to the pin and hole fits, so that the ribs may not only pivot, but may also tilt.

Background of the invention The invention relates to an umbrella, particularly a collapsible or foldable umbrella, which has a flat crosssectional shape when folded.

In umbrellas having in the collapsed or closed condition a flat cross-sectional shape, the cover ribs are not arranged on a circle lying concentric to the centre of the umbrella as is common in the prior art, but are rather arranged one behind the other in a line. Thus, the cover ribs are at different distances from the shaft axis of the umbrella.

An object of this invention is to provide structure in an umbrella of the above-described flat type, to allow easy movement of cover ribs from positions in which they lie in a plane and parallel to the umbrella shaft into positions in which they extend outwards, skew to the umbrella shaft and stretch the umbrella cover into an opened position.

A further object of the invention is to provide structure which prevents the formation, with umbrella covers which are inaccurately sewn or distorted by dampness, of friction forces affecting opening and closing of the umbrella at the pivot points of cover ribs, struts and auxiliary struts (if present) on head portion and sliders.

Another object is to provide umbrella structure in which manufacturing tolerances are larger than in previously known umbrellas of this kind, so that manufacture is simplified.

A further object is to eliminate with the uneven tension of the cover in the open state of the umbrella that arises in flat umbrellas because of the arrangement of the cover ribs in one or more successive rows. v

Other objects are to provide a collapsible umbrella of flat cross-sectional shape in the closed state which may be put even into a handbag or a cloth-pocket; to provide an umbrella of simpler operation than those of the prior art; and to provide an umbrella of easier manufacture and assembly, since fewer separate parts are required.

Summary of the invention The above objects are attained by a new connection of cover-spreading members at the umbrella shaft. This connection is characterized by large-diametered apertures in elongated spreading members; by small diameter securing pins passing through these apertures; and by recesses 3,431,925 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 of predetermined size around the location of the connection of spreading members and pins. With this structure, the angle between pins and spreading members is easily variable and the spreading members may be moved from a position in which they lie flat and parallel to the umbrella shaft into positions in which they spread an umbrella cover.

The above objects are also attained by building into the spreading members cover ribs having a plurality of cover-tying locations, so that a cover may be tied at a predetermined distance along the length of a rib and the remainder of the length may be cut away. This feature is needed because the elongated spreading members are connected at varying distances from the umbrella shaft.

The above objects are also attained by providing a handle having recesses at predetermined locations and guides, whereby cover rib ends may be guided into the recesses when collapsing the umbrella.

In one particular form of the invention, guide rails extend upwardly from the handle between the recesses, in order to guide collapsing cover ribs. At the handle end of the shaft, two mutually diametrically opposite guide rails running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shaft are provided, which are separated by a distance which is greater than the outer diameter of the guide portion of the slider. On collapsing the umbrella, the ends of the cover ribs are guided by means of the guide rails into two laterally-opposite recesses located in the handle portion, so that the slider with its guide portion moves between the umbrella shaft and the inner surfaces of the two guide rails.

By way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 shows a flat umbrella frame according to the invention in the closed state and in cross-section;

FIG. 2 shows an axial view of the head portion of the frame according to FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 shows the head portion of FIG. 2 with the cover ribs in side view;

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section through an embodiment of an umbrella according to the invention in the open state;

FIG. 5 shows the head portion of an umbrella according to the invention with the cover ribs in the open state, half in cross-section and half in elevation;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section along VI-VI of the handle of FIG. 1 on a larger scale;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section along VII-VH of the handle of FIG. 1 on a larger scale;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of an umbrella according to the invention in the open state as seen from below;

BIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of a cover rib for an umbrella according to the invention in the collapsed state in side view.

In the figures, the same parts are provided with the same references.

Description of the preferred embodiments An umbrella shaft is indicated at 1 which is connected at its upper end with a head portion 2 and at its lower end with a handle 16 (see FIG. 1). A main slider 5 and an auxiliary slider 7 are slidably mounted on the shaft 1. Cover ribs 3 are pivotally secured to the head portion 2, struts 4 are pivotally connected to the main slider 5 and auxiliary struts 11 are pivotally connected to the auxiliary slider 7 (e.g., FIG. 4). A cover 6 is secured to the head portion 2 by a cap 14. The outer periphery of the cover 6 is sewed to the cover ribs at their outer ends 8. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary struts 11 are pivotally connected to struts 4 and the structs 4 are seated slidingly on the cover ribs 3.

The handle 16 contains two recesses 17 arranged diametrally opposite with regard to the shaft 1 and secured together and to the shaft. At the right and at the left in FIG. 6, co-axially to the shaft 1, the two side walls of the handle 16 are extended upwardly. They are arranged connected with the walls of recesses 17. They form guide rails 18, the outer edges 19 at the level of the recesses 17 having a moderate radius R (FIG. 1).

In FIG. 1, it can be seen that, in the closed state of the umbrella constructed in accordance with the invention, the slide and auxiliary slide 7 are located in their lowermost positions determined by the lengths of the cover ribs 3, the struts 4 and the auxiliary struts 11. Securement members 12 of hairpin shape are received in apertures provided in those ends of the cover ribs 3, the struts 4 and the auxiliary struts 11 to be pivoted at the umbrella shaft to the head portion 2, the main slider 5 and the auxiliary slider 7 respectively, as can be seen in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows the connection of the cover ribs 3 by members 12 in the recesses 13 of the head portion 2. In the same way, the struts 4- and the auxiliary struts 11 are held in recesses 13 in the sliders 5 and 7 respectively. As securement members, pins, screws, splints or similarly shaped portions of metal or plastics material can be used.

The umbrella is opened by moving the slider 5 in the direction towards the head portion 2. The cover ribs 3 are moved outwardly by means of the struts 4 (see FIG. 4). Since the outermost ends 8 are sewed at a uniform distance a (e.g., FIG. 8) to the outer periphery of the umbrella cover 6, the cover ribs 3 are rotated by the cover 6 during opening of the umbrella from their positions parallel to the umbrella shaft 1 into positions lying approximately radial to the umbrella shaft 1. In the stretched and open state, the same distance a is left over the whole periphery between the ends of the cover ribs 8.

In FIG. 5, the head portion 2 is shown with the cover ribs 3 in the opened state, half in section and half in elevation. It can be seen that rotation of the cover ribs 3 is possible, because in the head portion and also in the two sliders 5 and 7 recesses 13 have been provided, which on the one hand allow location of the cover ribs 3 parallel to one another and to the umbrella shaft 1 in the closed state corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4 and which on the other hand, after opening of the umbrella, enable the planes formed by the cover ribs 3 and the associated struts 4 and auxiliary struts 11 to undergo lateral pivoting, so that the desired distance a between the ends 8 of the cover ribs is obtained more uniformly. The upper ends 9 of the cover ribs 3 and the ends of the struts 4 and the auxiliary struts 11 are provided with the apertures 10. The diameter of these apertures 11) is so large that pivoting of the cover ribs on opening is not prevented by the securement members 12 projecting through them.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the construction of the handle is more closely illustrated. It can be seen that the distance of the inner surfaces of the guide rails 18 from one another is at least so large that, on closing the umbrella, the main slider 5 with its cylindrical part can slide between the guide rails 18.

Closure of a collapsible umbrella according to the invention is effected by first turning the cover ribs 3 towards the tip of the umbrella and then taking the ends 22 of the cover rib 3 to the right and left of the umbrella shaft in one hand and folding them into a fiat position. The other hand takes the handle 16 from below and telescopes the umbrella shaft 1 together, the side edges 19 of the guide rails 18 serving for guiding and limitation, so that none of the cover ribs pivoted to the head portion at one side of the umbrella shaft 1 can come to rest at the other side of the shaft. The ends 22 of the cover ribs 3 become inserted into the right and left recesses 17 appropriate to them. This ensures that on closing the umbrella no unsymmetrical arrangement of the cover ribs and hence no bending of them nor thickening of the flat cross-section of the umbrella can occur. Likewise, jamming of the cover material and possible damage are also excluded. The recesses 17 are made sufficiently deep and so correspond to the shape of the ends 22 of the cover ribs that the frame of the collapsed umbrella has an accurately determined flat cross-section, without the cover rib ends 22 being separately inserted into the recesses provided for them.

Together with the insertion of the cover rib ends 22 into the recesses 17 provided for them, the guide rails 18 also fulfil a further function. As already mentioned, the two guide rails 18 run at a minimum spacing coaxial to the umbrella shaft 1.

The side edges 19 (FIG. 1) of the guide rails 18 run gradually together and converge upwardly and, as can be seen from FIG. 1, are adapted in shape to the hand or the finger surrounding the handle. On holding the handle, the finger and the palm of the hand smoothly surround the rounded part R, with which the side edges 19 run slightly inclined to the ends of the recesses 17, and so surround the guide rails 18. These measures ensure that the umbrella can be comfortably held over long periods of time.

For the recesses 17, only an extremely narrow base width is necessary. The bases of the recesses 17 can even be dispensed with, so that the ends 22 of the cover ribs lie close to the outer edges of the recesses and the handle does not necessitate any material extension of the collapsible umbrella according to the invention.

In certain embodiments of the umbrella according to the invention, in which the cover ribs are collapsed by telescoping rather than by hinging, the ends 22 of the cover ribs close up to the ends 8 of the outer cover rib portions. The handle construction is also applicable to umbrellas in which collapsing of the cover ribs is effected by a combination of inward hinging and telescoping. The handle has no movable parts and can consist of one piece and desirably is made of metal, wood or plastics material or a combination of various materials.

For pocket umbrellas of flat construction, 6 to 8 cover ribs are provided as a rule, as can be seen from FIG. 8. The cover ribs are arranged in a row and, in the closed state of the umbrella, half the number, namely 3 to 5 cover ribs, are disposed in each of the recesses 17. In the open state of the umbrella, the distances of their ends from the centre M of the umbrella must always be the same, that is Ra=Rb=Rc (see FIG. 8), but since the cover ribs are arranged in a row, their actual open lengths Sa, Sb or Sc are not the same. Compensation for the nonuniform stressing thus occurring can be provided by making the cover ribs of various lengths or by the stressing of the various sections. Since the cover ribs are made as mass-produced articles, it is not feasible to make them in different lengths and to stock them sorted into the various lengths and to take into account the different lengths of the struts needed for assembling the parts together. It is even less desirable for the cover sections to be made in various sizes.

It is consequently particularly desirable if the outer ends 8 of the cover ribs 3 are provided with several successively arranged eyelets for securing the cover. By this arrangement, manufacture of all the cover ribs to the same length is possible and assembly of the frame is made very simple. In FIG. 9, a cover rib of an adjustable pocket umbrella constructed in this way is shown. The cover ribs have at their outer ends 8 three eyelets 23, 24, 25, a ball end 26 being provided between each pair. The outermost one forms the end 27 of the rib.

The sectors of the umbrella cover corresponding to the cover ribs pivoted nearer the centre of the umbrella, are secured to the eyelets 25 or 24 of the cover ribs lying nearer the centre. Sectors of the cover which correspond to the cover ribs connected farthest from the centre of the umbrella are secured to the outermost eyelets 23. A satisfactory construction is thus given and the cover ribs, of which the inner eyelets 25 and 24 have been used for securing the umbrella cover, do not project uniformly from the outer periphery of the umbrella cover, are shortened after assembly of the frame by cutting off the end portion not used for securing the cover for example by means of a pair of cutters. For example, if securement of the umbrella cover makes use of the eyelets 24, then the outer end of the cover rib is separated at the point 28.

In the same construction naturally, the cover ribs can be made suitable for telescopically-collapsible umbrellas. In general, it is sufiicient to provide at the most three successive eyelets at the ends of the cover ribs. A greater number of eyelets can be provided, if required, since their presence is not a disadvantage, either as regards the strength of the cover ribs or as regards the external appearance of the open umbrella.

Although the invention has been described with some particularity, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An umbrella, comprising a shaft, a head portion secured to one end of said shaft, a cover afiixed to said head portion, a main slider and an auxiliary slider engaging said shaft, spreading means to spread said cover from a collapsed state into an open state comprising cover ribs pivotally secured to said head portion, main struts, pivotally secured to said main slider at one end and to the cover rib at the other end, and auxiliary struts pivotally secured to said auxiliary slider at one end and to the main struts at the other end, said head portion, main slider and auxiliary slider extend transversely from said 6 shaft and fixed at least radially relative to said shaft, and each having a plurality of recesses extending radially and at predetermined distances from said shaft, securement pins fixed to said head portion, main slider and auxiliary slider, said spreading means having apertures at the ends adjacent said shaft and received in said recesses with said securement pin passing through said apertures, the relationship between the recesses, the apertured ends of the spreading means and the securement pin is such as to permit and spreading mean to pivot freely from a position substantially parallel to said shaft into a predetermined position skewed to said shaft.

2. An umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said cover ribs have several eyelets successively arranged on the free end for selective securement of said cover.

3. An umbrella according to claim 1, further comprising recess means in a handle (17) at the other end of the shaft to accommodate said spreading means when said cover is collapsed, said recess means (17) arranged along a line parallel to said line on which the spreading means are secured, and means (18, 19) to guide said spreading means into said recess means when the cover is collapsed.

4. An umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said second means comprises in said handle two diametrically opposed guide rails running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,288 11/1940 Okun -25 2,264,881 12/1941 Herbin 13525 2,929,388 3/1960 Norkin 13525 PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner. 

